Head protection enclosure

ABSTRACT

An enclosure intended to ensure protection of the head, adapted to be rapidly set out and having a long utilization duration, of the type comprising an insulating, heat resistant and translucent wall, one part thereof at least being elastically deformable and provided with a means of passage for the wearer&#39;&#39;s head, this means being adjusted to insure the tightness about the wearer&#39;&#39;s neck, said enclosure being folded in vacuum and further comprising means for sealing the edges of the enclosure, handles permitting the unfolding and regeneration means provided inside said enclosure to deliver oxygen and to fix the carbonic anhydride delivered by the wearer&#39;&#39;s breath.

United States Patent [191 Delest 154] HEAD PROTECTION ENCLOSURE [75] Inventor: Rene Delest, Meudon, France [73] Assignee: S.A. Ulmer Aeronautique, Paris,

France [22] Filed: Feb. 28, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 447,024

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Mar. 1, 1973 France 73.07287 [52] US. Cl 128/142; l28/l42.7; 128/191 R; 2/3 R; 2/7

[51] Int. Cl A6lm 15/00 [58] Field of Search l28/l42.7, 142.4, 142.3, 128/142, 141 R, 140 R, 145 R, 145.8, 146,

191 R, 203, 205; 2/2 R, 3 R, 2.5, 7, 205

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,850,011 9/1958 Schaefer 128/142 3,521,629 7/1970 Reynolds 128/142.7

[4 1 July 22,1975

Primary Examiner-Richard A. Gaudet Assistant ExaminerHenry J. Recla Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Holman & Stern 1 1 ABSTRACT An enclosure intended to ensure protection of the head, adapted to be rapidly set out and having a long utilization duration, of the type comprising an insulating, heat resistant and translucent wall, one part thereof at least being elastically deformable and provided with a means of passage for the wearers head, this means being adjusted to insure the tightness about the wearers neck, said enclosure being folded in vacuum and further comprising means for sealing the edges of the enclosure, handles permitting the unfolding and regeneration means provided inside said enclosure to deliver oxygen and to fix the carbonic anhydride delivered by the wearers breath.

10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures HEAD PROTECTION ENCLOSURE wearer to breathe and move during a certain period of time secure from nuisances such as flames,'heat, smoke (in case of a fire); noxious vapours, etc.

Known protective enclosures of this type have an insulating, heat resistant and translucent wall, one part thereof at least being elastically deformable and 'provided with a means of passage for the wearers head, said means being adjusted to ensure then the tightness of the enclosure about the wearers neck.

It is an object of this invention to provide a protective enclosure of this t'ype-whichcan be readily stowable and rapidly and completely unfolded in a period of time as short as possible and through simple gestures,

Another object of the invention is to provide a protective enclosure of the mentioned type having a utilization duration longer than that of the known protective enclosures.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment, which is by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a protective enclosure according to the invention of the type comprising a foldable frame and a regeneration set.

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of an articulation of the frame in unfolded position.

FIG. 3 is a view of the articulation shown in FIG. 2, but in folded position.

FIG. 4 is a plan view on a small scale of the protective enclosure, when folded.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the folded protective enclosure shown in FIG. 4, and

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view on a large scale of the regeneration set.

Referring to the drawings, there is provided a breathing enclosure which comprises a flexible wall 1 formed from an insulating, heat-resistant and translucent material, supported by a frame constituted of rigid segments 2, 3, 4 mutually connected by articulations 5, 6, One wall 7 of the enclosure is elastically deformable and defines an opening 8 to permit the passage of the head inwardly. Two handles 9,9 are secured to the opposed segments 10, 10' of the frame supporting the wall 7.

On each articulation point such as 5 there is provided an elastic releasing means formed with a rubber extensible spring 11 or the like, the ends 12, 13 thereof being secured to the segments 2, 3 on both sides of the articulation 5. The rubber extensible spring 11 engages with a stretcher 14 also articulated in 5.

Inside the enclosure there is provided a regeneration set 15 which is shown on a large scale on FIG. 6. This set comprises a housing 16, opened at one end 17 thereof and provided at the other end with perforated walls 18 which define a chamber filled with a regeneration material 19, which may be for instance formed with pellets of potassium superoxide (K0 Between this chamber and the opening 17 there is mounted an engine 20, the shaft thereof supporting a fan 21. The engine 20 is connected to a source of electric supply 22 (battery, accumulator or the like).

Opposed to the face 21 there is mounted a small tank 24 containing water (or other suitable additive) sealed by a cap 25; the shaft of the engine 20 supports a milling cutter 23 which is biassed bya spring 26 against said cap. I v

The method for using the enclosure results directlyfrom the foregoing.

When the device is to be folded (FIGS. 4 and 5), the segments 4, 10 and 27 are folded along the line XY into contact with the segments 4, 10 and 27 respectively, and a sealing bouding is ensured on the periphery of these segments, whereby avacuum may be created inside the enclosure so as to facilitate the folding. The folding is then carried on owing to the other segments, rigidly bound to the walls, to result in a unit of little thickness, easy to slide into a pocket-case and which will be handled by the readily accessible outer handles 9, 9. 1

In use, the wearer takes hold of a handle 9, 9 in each hand, pulls them away from each other, whereby the sealing bonding between the segments of the frame surrounding the deformable wall is broken. The air flows into the enclosure, which expands immediately automatically owing to the elastic return-effect of the rubber extensible springs 11 on each articulation such as 5. The wearer has but to put his head into the enclosure through the opening 8 which tightens then about his neck.

Just as the handles 9, 9 are pulled, the engine 20 of the regeneration set starts by means of a suitable device (for instance a wire actuating a contact). The rotation of the fan 21 causes the air to flow into the opening 17, through the regeneration material 19 and out through the perforated walls 18. Oxygen is delivered inside the enclosure and carbonic anhydride is fixed.

Simultaneously, the engine 20 drives into rotation the milling cutter 23 which shears the cap 25 of the tank 24. The water contained in this tank flows out to moisten the regeneration circuit, whereby the effect of the regeneration material is enhanced.

What I claim is:

1. An insulating, heat-resistant and translucent enclosure intended to ensure protection of the head and to be completely closed to the atmosphere and to any source of fresh oxygen when worn on the wearers head, at least one part of said enclosure being elastically deformable and provided with a means of passage for the wearers head, said passage means being adjustable to insure the tightness about the wearers neck, said enclosure being folded in vacuum, handle means associated with said enclosure for facilitating the unfolding of said enclosure, and regeneration means provided inside said enclosure for regenerating the air delivered by the wearers breath to provide oxygen therefrom and to fix the carbonic anhydride.

2. An enclosure as defined in claim 1, including elastic releasing means associated with said handle means for providing the immediate and complete unfolding of the enclosure.

3. An enclosure as defined in claim 1, wherein the regeneration means comprises a small engine-fan set, a small-sized source of energy associated with said set, and at least one housing containing a regeneration chemical and having a wall adapted to let air flow therethrough, the position of the housing and the arrangement of the chemical inside the housing being such that the air propelled by the fan will flow therethrough efficiently.

4. An enclosure as defined in claim 3, wherein the regeneration chemical is potassium superoxide (K 5. An enclosure as defined in claim 3, further including contact means for controlling the engine-fan set and actuating means associated with said handle means for actuating said contact means when said enclosure is unfolded.

6. An enclosure as defined in claim 3, including means to provide an admixing with the regenerating chemical of a suitable regeneration-reinforcing additive compatible with breathing.

7. An enclosure as defined in claim 6, wherein the additive is housed inside a small closed tank and said regeneration means includes means to provide said tank with an exit orifice and means to expel the additive as soon as said tank is provided with said orifice.

8. An enclosure as defined in claim 7, wherein the additive-containing tank has an elastic wall which is pretensioned and the means providing the exit orifice of said tank is associated with said handle means so as to be actuated when the enclosure is unfolded.

9. An enclosure as defined in claim 7, wherein the additive-containing tank is provided with an exit cap and the means providing the exit orifice of said tank is a milling cutter driven by the engine belonging to the regeneration means and biassed into engagement with said exit cap to ensure the opening thereof.

10. An enclosure as defined in claim 1, wherein the regeneration means includes at least two closed tanks each containing a regeneration chemical, said chemicals being capable of mixing together when said tanks are opened to give a regeneration product, and means associated with said handle means to open said tanks when the enclosure is unfolded. 

1. An insulating, heat-resistant and translucent enclosure intended to ensure protection of the head and to be completely closed to the atmosphere and to any source of fresh oxygen when worn on the wearer''s head, at least one part of said enclosure being elastically deformable and provided with a means of passage for the wearer''s head, said passage means being adjustable to insure the tightness about the wearer''s neck, said enclosure being folded in vacuum, handle means associated with said enclosure for facilitating the unfolding of said enclosure, and regeneration means provided inside said enclosure for regenerating the air delivered by the wearer''s breath to provide oxygen therefrom and to fix the carbonic anhydride.
 2. An enclosure as defined in claim 1, including elastic releasing means associated with said handle means for providing the immediate and complete unfolding of the enclosure.
 3. An enclosure as defined in claim 1, wherein the regeneration means comprises a small engine-fan set, a small-sized source of energy associated with said set, and at least one housing containing a regeneration chemical and having a wall adapted to let air flow therethrough, the position of the housing and the arrangement of the chemical inside the housing being such that the air propelled by the fan will flow therethrough efficiently.
 4. An enclosure as defined in claim 3, wherein the regeneration chemical is potassium superoxiDe (KO2).
 5. An enclosure as defined in claim 3, further including contact means for controlling the engine-fan set and actuating means associated with said handle means for actuating said contact means when said enclosure is unfolded.
 6. An enclosure as defined in claim 3, including means to provide an admixing with the regenerating chemical of a suitable regeneration-reinforcing additive compatible with breathing.
 7. An enclosure as defined in claim 6, wherein the additive is housed inside a small closed tank and said regeneration means includes means to provide said tank with an exit orifice and means to expel the additive as soon as said tank is provided with said orifice.
 8. An enclosure as defined in claim 7, wherein the additive-containing tank has an elastic wall which is pretensioned and the means providing the exit orifice of said tank is associated with said handle means so as to be actuated when the enclosure is unfolded.
 9. An enclosure as defined in claim 7, wherein the additive-containing tank is provided with an exit cap and the means providing the exit orifice of said tank is a milling cutter driven by the engine belonging to the regeneration means and biassed into engagement with said exit cap to ensure the opening thereof.
 10. An enclosure as defined in claim 1, wherein the regeneration means includes at least two closed tanks each containing a regeneration chemical, said chemicals being capable of mixing together when said tanks are opened to give a regeneration product, and means associated with said handle means to open said tanks when the enclosure is unfolded. 